Electrical conductor



Feb. 2, 1932. J. MAIBAUM `ELECTRICAL CONDUCTOR ,Filed Feb. 2l 1929 wm j f. A mm www m wventoz www Patented Feb. 2p, 1932 i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JEROME MAIBAUM, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

' ELECTRICAL coNDUc'roR Application led February 2, 1929. Serial N0. 337,053.

eithersingle or multi-conductor, which is very fiexible and is substantially insulated to withstand wear. l

In the accompanying drawings and description which disclose anembodiment of the invention selected for purposes of illustration:

Fig. 1 is a plan viewof a short section of a cord having the several parts thereof progressively removed to show the interior construction; l

Fig. 2 is a greatly enlarged view generally similar to Fig. 1, showingthe construction of the cord in more detail; and

Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the line 3-3 of Fi 2. v f ords heretofore known and used for forming a flexible electrical connection between an electrical appliance or apparatus and another electrical appliance or apparatus, or an electrical system, have not been entirely satisfactory because ofthe inherent tendency ofthe. cords to kink or twist up.

This tendency of the cords to kink is particularly pronounced in very fiexible, cords, for example, in lamp cords, and in cords of the general type ordinarily used for connecting a telephone receiver to a telephone instrument. In cords of-this nature the electrical conductors usually are made up of a plurality of fine wires or of tinsel which may be braided or twisted together. These conductors .are enclosed in separate insulating sheaths, and one or more of the insulated conductors are enclosed within, and if a plurality, are bound together by, an outer jacket which usually is of braided fabric.

The invention disclosed herein provides a non-kinking cord without materially lessening the desired fiexibility of the cord, and

.without materially increasing the overall dimensions of the cord. l

For purposes of illustration the invention has'been shown in connection with a two conductor cord. It will be apparent, however, that the invention is applicable to any cord', whether having one, two or more conducto'rs.

Referring` to Fig. 1, there is shown a section of flexible two conductor cord, the outer jacketlO, suitable means 1l for preventing kinking, and the separate insulating sheaths 12 and 13 being progressively cut away from the conductors` 14 and 15 to show the construction.

As may better be seen in Fig. 2, which is a greatly enlarged view similar to Fig. l, the two electrical conductors 14 and 15 are provided with separate insulating sheaths.

`Ordinarily the conductors will consist of a plurality of fine wires or of tinsel, veither braided, or twisted together as shown. The separate insulating sheaths for the conductors may be of any approved type. In the embodiment of the invention disclosed here.

in, the conductors 14 and 15 are encased in insulating sheaths 12 and 13, respectively, for example of rubber. Overlying the rubber sheaths 12 vand 13 are the braided fabric jackets 12 and 13. r

Extending along the insulated 'conductors which are assembled in parallel relationship is a strip of flexible material 11, preferably overlying a filler space formed between the conductors. Preferably the strip 11 is made of paper, and it may be a single layer or it maybe laminated to provide the requisite stiffness. If desired, a similar strip 16 may also extend along the conductors, overlying the other filler space.

4i0 ductors, ordinarily the pressure of the outer jacket will be suficient to maintaln them in place.

The effect of the strip 11, or ofthe strips 11 and 16 is to tend to give the cord a. certain degree of rigidity in the plane parallel to.

the flat surfaces of the strips, but Without materially affecting the flexibility of the cord in the plane at right angles to the first plane. This added rigidity from the strip or strips is so slight that it in no way interferes with the desired overall flexibility of the cord,

but it is sulcient to prevent undesirable kinking and twistingof the cord under normal use.

While the drawing discloses each of the filler spaces having an overlying strip, ordinarily it will be suflicient to so provide only` one of the iller spaces. In cords having morev than two conductors, one or all, or any intermediate number of the filler spaces may be provided with the overlying strips in a similar manner.

It may be found desirable to corrugate the .ipaper strips, either laterally or longitudinally, or tozprovide them with shallow indentations for t'he purpose of adding lateral rigidity. -4

The invention may be variously modified and embodied within the scope ofthe sub- "joined claims.` A Y l I claim: i 1. An artlcle of manufacture comprising,

lincombination, a plurality offlexible metallic conductors, separate insulating sheaths j surrounding each of said conductors, an outsurroundin each of said conductors, an outer braided jac etsurrounding and binding together said conductors, and flat strips of ilexible material of a width substantially equal to the distancev between conductor centers enclosed' within said braided jacket and ex- 'tendingl along said conductors overlying the filler spaces between the insulated conductors for preventing kinking of the article.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this 29th day of January, 1929.

JEROME MAIBAUM;

er jacket surrounding and binding said con-. ductors'togetherin parallel relation, and a thin flat stripy enclosedwithin said outer jacket and extending along parallel to and bridging a filler space between saidconductors for preventing kinking of the article.

2. An article lof manufacture comprising,

in combination, two metallic conductors, separate insulating sheaths surrounding each of said conductors, an outer fabric 'acket surrounding and binding said con uctors together in parallel relation, and a thin flat strip of fibrous material-enclosed within said outer ijacket and extending along parallel preventing kinking of the article.

An article of manufacture comprising, in combination, two parallel, flexible electrical conductors, separateinsulating sheaths and tanf'ent to said insulated conductors for Hizo" 

